Looking at Luffy was completely different from before.
Garp walked over, sat down next to him, and put his hands behind his back.
Neither the grandfather nor the grandson spoke.
After an unknown amount of time, Luffy spoke first.
"Grandfather..."
His voice was muffled, as if he had a stone stuck in his throat.
"I still... can't beat them, right?"
Garp didn't hesitate; he would never lie to appease his grandson.
"Right."
Luffy froze, his fingers tightening slightly as he gripped the Straw Hat.
"You have now completed the Devil Fruit Awakening, but that is only the beginning."
Garp gazed at the sea, his voice much lower than usual.
" Kaido and Roy, each of them has trained for decades longer than you."
Their Haki, physical skills, and Devil Fruit abilities have reached a level you can't even begin to comprehend.
"You are indeed stronger now than you were two years ago, but you are still far from it."
Luffy bit his lip so hard that blood almost seeped from the corner of his mouth.
"Stop biting."
Garp flicked his forehead with a finger.
Luffy winced in pain and raised his hand to cover his forehead.
"You think Roger could beat me back then? Don't be delusional."
Garp withdrew his hand, rested his hands on his knees, and spoke with a more serious tone.
You know that kid's story too.
No matter how many times he gets beaten up, he will get back up.
"I was a Marine for decades, and that guy always kept saying he wanted to be the Pirate King. In the end, he did become one, didn't he?"
The sea breeze gently blew Garp's graying hair.
"But Roger didn't become the Pirate King overnight."
He suffered greatly in his youth, being chased all over the place, far more pathetic than you are now."
Luffy didn't say anything, but his clenched fist loosened.
Garp continued:
"You should have already seen clearly what happened in this conflict with the Beasts Pirates."
Behind that Beasts Pirates is Roy, and the entire Hachinosu.
" Roy..."
Luffy repeated the name softly.
Garp nodded.
"When that kid first went to sea, the opponents he faced were much stronger than yours."
However, Hachinosu now likely possesses a fighting force stronger than the navy.
"Don't go looking for trouble with Kaido and Roy unless you're absolutely certain."
Luffy remained silent for a long time.
He recalled the days when Roy trained him and Ace together in Foosha Village.
He knew then that Roy was very strong.
He never imagined that one day Roy's name would be among the people he was going to defeat.
Garp sighed inwardly as he looked at his grandson's expression.
Even Chopper could clearly see the resentment in Luffy's eyes.
This kid definitely has a lot to say.
"I understand, Grandpa," Luffy said.
These few simple words are more composed than ever before.
"I won't act impulsively anymore."
Garp looked into his eyes.
The flame deep within those eyes, though suppressed, burned even brighter than before.
Garp laughed and flicked him on the forehead again.
"You brat."
He stood up and brushed the sand off his pants.
Go ahead.
Don't keep your friends waiting too long. It's your life, your choice.
Luffy up and put his Straw Hat back on his head.
He turned around and walked towards the Thousand Sunny.
After taking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and grinned at Garp.
It's that kind of silly, carefree laugh.
"Grandpa, thank you."
Garp smiled as he looked at his grandson's smiling face.
At that moment, he felt that he had done a good job as a grandfather.
The Thousand Sunny sets sail.
Brook started playing her violin at the stern, and the tinkling music drifted on the sea breeze.
Luffy stood on the lion's head, his Straw Hat pulled low, covering half his face.
He raised his right hand high and waved it repeatedly at Garp on the shore.
The figure that kept waving until it reached the shore became a small black dot.
" Luffy- kun, it's time to eat. How long are you going to stand there?"
"Oh! Really!?"
Luffy turned around and, upon hearing the news that dinner was served, immediately put his worries behind him.
The Thousand Sunny cut through the waves and sailed forward.
On a deserted island.
Fujitora walked up behind Garp.
His cane tapped the ground, a hint of hesitation on his face.
" Garp..."
"Speak."
Garp had his back to him and was still looking towards the horizon.
" The World Government's mission for us is to capture Straw Hat Luffy."
Fujitora's voice was soft and his tone was even.
"Not only did we fail to complete the mission, but we also let him go. Is this... really okay?"
Are you asking me to go and arrest my own grandson?
"I wouldn't dare."
Fujitora shook his head.
"However... from your perspective, you still need to give an explanation to the Marine Headquarters and the World Government."
Garp turned around.
His expression was calm, but his voice was as heavy as a hammer.
"If you want to explain, write a report."
"Just say I was the one who released him."
"What? You think you can stop my grandson?"
Fujitora fell silent.
After a moment, he smiled slightly.
"No. It is precisely because he is your grandson that I did not lay a hand on him."
He paused, then said softly:
"I see something very interesting in Straw Hat Luffy."
Perhaps one day in the future, he won't be as terrible as the World Government says.
Garp snorted, turned around, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the sea.
He is my grandson.
His tone was a mixture of pride and stubbornness as he said this.
"I'm only responsible for being a grandfather."
The sea breeze swept by, sounding like a soft laugh.
Fujitora said no more.
A while later...
"Lord Garp, how should we explain things regarding Ryokugyu and Sengoku when we return to headquarters?"
Garp remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
"Tell the truth."
"Losing a battle is not shameful. What's shameful is not daring to admit it."
Fujitora nodded, his cane tapping lightly on the ground.
Purple ripples of gravity spread out from the base of his staff, and the two bodies were gently lifted up by a soft force.
The deserted island was left beneath our feet.
The sea breeze scattered their shadows.
In mid-air, Fujitora's low voice was carried by the wind to the distant sea.
" Luffy, until next time."
The two flew further and further towards the Marine Headquarters, eventually disappearing into the horizon.
And beneath the distant sea.
A completely black submarine silently surfaced.
The periscope rotated slowly in the moonlight, its lens reflecting two small dots in the distant sky, and further away, the Thousand Sunny, long since out of sight.
·········
Hachinosu Port.
Roy's flagship pierced through the grayish-white sea fog and slowly docked at the pier.
Unlike Onigashima, a port ravaged by war, everything on Hachinosu is in perfect order.
The stone-built pier extended into the sea, and two rows of fully armed guards stood straight. When Roy disembarked, they all bowed their heads in salute.
Stella was waiting at the end of the dock.
His expression remained calm as he glanced at Sengoku and Ryokugyu, who were being escorted behind Roy in Seastone, his gaze pausing only slightly.
Welcome back, Roy.
"Yes. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Roy exchanged a few words with her briefly, then ordered his men to take Sengoku and Ryokugyu to the joint experimental base.
Yamato followed behind Roy, with Genzo carrying his spiked club on his shoulder, looking around at the changes on Hachinosu.
"It's been a while since I've been back, and this place is still the same."
"What do you mean 'the same as before'? The dock has been expanded to twice its original size."
Roy gave a casual reply, then gave Stella a few instructions regarding the follow-up arrangements.